So moving, to watch Evgeni skate so beautifully. I've always loved the music, but not to hear it since RC, and then to see it for the first time again tonight was magical. This SP is one of my favs, and that's the honest to God truth.

One would honestly never know that he was recently injured. I for one cannot tell. In fact, the only thing I was a bit concerned about was his very slim physique, but I suppose he has to be this slim for peak condition at the Olympics.

Wait to see this year's US Nationals. Then you won't laugh at this score any more. I know it's inflated. Which Nationals don't have inflated scores?

The ones that come to mind are French and Italian Nationals, as we saw last weekend. The scores are usually high, obviously - but not to the crazy extent you see in some other places. And AFAIK they don't give bonus points for any elements.

To be fair, it has been that way for a long time. I remember there was one season when Michelle Kwan fell *twice* during her program at US Nationals...The judges at US Nats gave Michelle the gold anyway, and gave Sasha Cohen the silver, even though Sasha's program was cleaner than Michelle's. That season, Michelle won for USFS at Worlds, so their decision seemed smart, whether fair or not.

The only Nats I recall Michelle falling twice in the LP was 1997, when she was 3rd in the LP, but 2nd overall due to a 1st place finish in the SP.

Many Sasha fans feel Sasha "was robbed" at 2000 Nationals, so I am going to assume you are thinking of this competition. Both had a fall in the LP, Sasha had a couple wonky landings-landing 4 clean triples to Michelle's 6 clean triples, and Michelle was a much better overall skater than Sasha. So, as far as I am concerned the only robbing that year was Sasha winning Silver over Sarah Hughes. Yes, Michelle did then go on to deliver a very inspiring, 7 triple skate to win 2000 Worlds.

The ones that come to mind are French and Italian Nationals, as we saw last weekend. The scores are usually high, obviously - but not to the crazy extent you see in some other places. And AFAIK they don't give bonus points for any elements.

I agree with you, the marks at the French nationals, after watching Amodio's LP on video, have not been exagerated to anywhere close to these.
Last year an unknown for me Contesti scored bg in the Italian championships and later he scored very close to that at the Euros, so i do belive that the scores are very close to what they get internationally in italian championships. And you just have to look at their leading dance teams scores, they are pretty close to what they get as well on the world stage. The "inflation" of scores like here, I found plain and simple silly..